How to Thaw Frozen Pipes in Your SE Michigan Home

Discovering a frozen pipe before it bursts is a good thing – but once you discover it, what are you supposed to do? Here’s how to thaw frozen pipes.

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes in Your SE Michigan Home

When you find a frozen pipe, don’t panic… but do act quickly. Here’s what you do:

Turn on the faucet

Apply heat to the frozen section

Stay the course until full pressure comes back

Know when to call a plumber

Turn on the Faucet

Sometimes a frozen pipe will resolve itself if you run the water – even if the water is cold. This can be particularly helpful if the pipe isn’t completely frozen.

Apply Heat

When you find a frozen section, use an electric heating pad or a hair dryer. In a pinch, you can even wrap pipes in towels soaked with hot water (just change them out as soon as they start to cool down). Don’t use a blowtorch, propane or kerosene heater or anything else that has an open flame.

Keep the Heat On

Keep applying heat to the frozen pipe until all the water pressure is restored.

Know When to Call a Plumber

If you can’t find the part of the pipe that’s frozen, or if you can’t access it, you need to call a professional plumber. If you can’t thaw the pipe, even after trying everything mentioned here, it’s time to pick up the phone, too.

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